you couldn't have known vs you weren't to know

Both phrases are correct, but they're used in different contexts. 'You couldn't have known' expresses that someone wasn't able to know something, while 'you weren't to know' indicates that someone wasn't supposed to know something.

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Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: December 16, 2024 • 9515 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express that someone was not able to know something.

"you couldn't have known"

This phrase is used to convey that the person being addressed had no way of knowing a particular fact or information.

Examples:

You couldn't have known about the surprise party. It was meant to be a secret.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. You couldn't have known what was going to happen.
She couldn't have known that her words would hurt him so deeply.
They couldn't have known that the project would be so challenging.
He couldn't have known that his actions would have such serious consequences.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 21, 2024

Jun 11, 2022 ... What does "You couldn't have known" imply? Does it mean "You didn't know before until now (that means you know now) " or "it's not possible ...
Mar 27, 2004 ... You couldn't have known my work. How could you? RF But I read you're in the Hirshhorn collection…the Whitney. Don't they have your paintings ...
May 7, 2023 ... ruby says, “we couldn't have known” to which sapphire replies “no, you couldn't have known. you never know what's going on, that's what i'm ...
Mar 21, 2022 ... 1898 likes, 173 comments - turnerbuttry on March 21, 2022: "you couldn't have known what I did for this. #MrBasketball".
Jul 20, 2022 ... Wouldn't it have made more sense for Kim to say "you couldn't have known"? Upvote
Jun 2, 2016 ... What have you accomplished in the last year and a half that you couldn't have known you'd accomplish? Like this post? I'd love if you'd ...
You couldn't have known the thrill of hearing him say 'mommy or daddy' for the first time, and of seeing him start walking across the room when his tiny ...
Dec 20, 2016 ... I reminded my client of this same thing. “You couldn't have known it before you knew it,” I told him. “We never really know how things will work ...
You Couldn't Have Known. by Karen DeArmond Gardner | Dec 19, 2022 | Shame, Coercive Control Violence, Domestic Violence. Artist Erica Rosa ...
Apr 21, 2011 ... You couldn't have known this, but your fellow photographer Chris Hondros would die later that evening. I'm picturing you and your three ...

Alternatives:

You had no way of knowing
You had no idea
You had no clue

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in everyday language. It is used to indicate that someone was not supposed to know something.

"you weren't to know"

This phrase is used to convey that the person being addressed was not expected or required to have knowledge of a particular fact or information.

Examples:

I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. You weren't to know about the changes.
You weren't to know that the meeting had been rescheduled.
She wasn't to know that the event was canceled.
He wasn't to know about the surprise party.
They weren't to know the details of the operation.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 21, 2024

Oct 3, 2019 ... You weren't to know usage in British English. = depending on the situation. 'that's ok it wasn't your fault, you could not have known.
Nov 2, 2016 ... You weren't to know that you hated sitting exams in stuffy classrooms because your passion was for rock music or performance art, and that it ...
May 1, 2023 ... If you are new to the game OP, you weren't to know, but these 2 activities are WILDLY different in terms of zombie attracting!! Like, polar ...
Aug 29, 2021 ... ... . Still you weren't to know that Smiley Happy. Reply. 1 Like. Mark as New; Bookmark; Subscribe; Subscribe to RSS Feed · Permalink · Print ...
6 days ago ... You weren't to know–in fact, I think I'm the only person who does know. See full dictionary entry for know. Collins COBUILD Advanced ...
Nov 23, 2023 ... Well, you weren't to know. May wanna cancel though. But my name ain't Jimminy. Bkdodger1. Well-known member. Jun 27, 2019. 4,365. 3,568.
Apr 27, 2023 ... You weren't to know about the covid. I am also really sure that food was found not to be a likely cause of the virus spreading. I think it ...
You weren't to know. A: Oh dear — I seem to remember being warned at school not to mention specific theatre productions when discussing Shakespeare in an ...
Jul 26, 2019 ... Firstly, you didn't do anything wrong, you didn't catch it and you weren't to know (awareness is getting better but there's still a long way ...
You only made a fun suggestion, you weren't to know the outcome of it. It seems like you've done your best to build up her self esteem again, this is not ...

Alternatives:

It wasn't your place to know
You weren't meant to know
You weren't expected to know

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you couldn't have known vs you weren't to know

"you couldn't have known"

"you weren't to know"

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